Valve grinder



Nov. 27, 1951 .F. L.EARLL V I 1 6,333

VALVE GRINDER v Filed June 27, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 fire-.1. 13 I17.26: 2.

I v I I lI/A INVENTOR. fkq/v/rl. 54241.,

N v-27, ELEARLL 2,576,333

\ VALVE GRINDER Filed June 27, 1949 2 SHEETS-QSHEET 2 Patented Nov. 27,1951 UNITED s'rA'rss smear OFFICE VALVE GRINDER Frank Lester Earll, LosAngeles, Calif.

Application June 27, 1949, Serial No. 101,570

This invention relates to improvements in valve grinders of the typethat are employed to grind the seating surfaces of a poppetvalve and itsvalve seat, such as those employed on internal combustion engines.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an improved valvegrinder which can be easily "and quickly applied to a valve stem andwhich hasa rotary clamping means that can be clamped upon a valve stemand then rotated to rotate "the valve with relation to its seat.Associated with the clamp is a novel, simple, and durable expansible andcontractible means so arranged that when the clamping means is rotatedin one direction the expansible and ccntractible means will be expandedso as to cause the valve stem to urge its head against the valve seat inthe course of grinding the valve. However, on rotating the clampingmeans in the opposite direction the expansible and contractible meanswill be contracted enabling the head of the valve to be lifted from itsseat for purposes of inspection of 'the ground surfaces or for theapplication of adand showing the valve as having been lifted from itsseat for purposes of inspection or the application-of valvegrindingcompound; I

Fig. 2 is a similar view but illustrating the'position-assumed by thevarious parts in the course of grinding the valve; I

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken substantialy upon the line 33 uponFig. l in the direction indicated;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken substantially upon the line 44 uponFig. 2 in the direction indicated;

Fig. 5 is a view illustrating the manner in which the improved valvegrinder can be advantageously used;

Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation, parts being shown in verticalsection illustrating anralternative form of construction; and Fig. 7 isa view illustrating another manner. in which the alternative form ofconstruction may housed.

3 Claims. (CI. 51-29) Referring to the accompanying drawings whereinsimilar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, I 0indicates the manifold of an internal combustion engine within whichthere is a valve guide H for the valve stem l2 of a valve, the head ofwhich is indicated at 3. The head of the valve is adapted to seat upon avalve seat M; The particular formation of the manifold, the valve guideII, and the arrangement of the ports leading to or from the openingsurrounded by the valve seat I will vary considerably with differenttypes of internal combustion engines, and consequently, these featureshave not been illustrated in detail.

The valve grinder embodying the present invention consists of a sprinhousing made upof a cylinder l5 having an external shoulder [6. On theupper end of the cylinder 15 there is screwed or otherwise applied a capl! which may have its upper surface knurled or roughened as indicated atI8, or which may have a laterally extending arm H! which mayengage theside of the cylinder block of the engine as indicated by dotted lines at20. The knurling at i8 and the arm is may both be used on the sameconstruction if desired and the primary purpose of the knurling and thearm 19 is merely to hold the spring housing made up of the cylinder, l6and the cap H against rotation. On the exterior of the spring housingthere is rotatably disposed a pulley 2|, this pulley being rotatablebetween the shoulder l6 and the cap W. This pulley has a cylindricalextension 22 in which slots 23 are formed. A disc 24 is disposed withintheextenslon 22 and has threaded apertures therein to receive set screws25 which are screwed into the apertures through the slots 23. The setscrews 25 are adapted to be tightened into clamping engagement on thevalve stem l2 and as the set screws extend through the slots 23 theyprovide an axially slidable but nonrotatable connection between the disc24 and the pulley 2|.

Within the spring housing there are two axially aligned compressionsprings 26 and 21. These compression springs have open convolutions. Thelower end of the lower compression spring 21 is anchored, such as bybrazing at 28 to the top of the disc 24 and in a similar manner, theupper end of the compression spring 26 is anchored to the cap l1. If thepulley 21 is rotated relatively to the spring housing in one di-,rection the spring 21 which is anchored to the disc 24 will unscrew outof the spring 26 into the position shown in Fig. 2. After the spring 2'!has completely screwed out of the spring 25,-con-' the head I3 to pressagainst the seat |4 while i the valve is being rotated.

On the other hand, if the pulley 2| is reversely rotated, this willcause the disc 24 to be turned in the opposite direction from thatpreviously mentioned and cause the spring '21 to screw into the spring26, thus shortening the overall length of the two springs. When theparts assume this condition illustrated in'Fig. 1, wherein it will i .beobserved that the disc 24 has been lifted into engagement with thebottom of the spring housing, the valve will be bodily lifted from itsseat M to permit of inspection of the seating surfaces and theapplication of additional valve grinding compound. In this manner itwill be appreciated that when the pulley 2| is rotated in one directionthe springs will screw out of each other and assume a maximum overalllength wherein they are effective to urge the valve against its seatwhile it is being rotated. Continued rotation after the springs havemutually unscrewed does not involve a continued expansion or extensionof the overall dimension of the two springs inas much as their endsmerely slide and snap over ,1;

'each other. Howeven'when it is desired to in spect the seating surfacesor to apply additional ,valve grinding-compounding it is merelynecessary to reversely rotate the pulley 2| which will cause the twosprings to screw one within the otherand thus shorten their overalldimensions enabling the valve to be lifted from its seat.

Anymeans may be employed for rotating the "pulley Hand to this end Ihave illustrated in Fig. 5 the application of an electric motor 29 whichhas a shaft 30 that can be inserted through I the valve guide of anadjoining valve. A pulley 3| may be applied to the lower end of thisshaft and a belt 32 trained overthe pulleys 3| and 2|.

This motor may be used to drive the pulley 2| in the normal or valvegrinding direction which, above explained, will involve the pressing ofthe valvehead against its seat while it is being rotated. Whenever it isdesired to inspect or apply valve grinding compound, the motor 29 may bestopped and the pulley 2| reversely rotated a .few revolutions by hand.Other means may be employed for rotating the pulley 2| if desired. 7

In vFigs.,.6 and '7 an alternative form of constructionis disclosedconsisting of a suitable bracket or arm 40 that my be bolted orotherwise secured to a support 4|. .On this arm or bracket there iswelded or otherwise secured a .valve guide 42, and a holder 43 is boltedto the arm such as by a bolt 44. This holder has threaded thereto orotherwise secured thereto a sleeve or housing 45 which providesshoulders betweenwhich a pulley 46 is rotatable. This pulley has anextended hub 41 which is slotted to receive set screws 48 that arethreaded into a disc 49 that is axially slidable within the hub. Ahelical spring 50 has its upper ends-fastened within the housing 45 andhas openconvolutions. 'This spring is inaxial alignment .withasimilarspring 5,|'- that is anchored or otherwise securedto the disc 49. Thepulley 46 is adapted to be driven by a belt 52 driven ofi of a motor 53which may be mounted on a bracket 54 that is secured to the support 4|.On the arm or bracket 40 there is a, support 55 for an abrasive wheel 56which is rotatable thereon about an axis that is inclined to the axis ofthe stem of the valve 51.

This form of construction may be very advantageously employed where itis desired to entirely re-face the seating surface of the valve 51. Whenthe valve is in the position shown in Fig. 6, on

rotating the pulley 45 in the proper direction the the arrangement issuch that a smooth bevel will be quickly ground on the setting surfaceof the valve 51, thus re-facing the valve as desired. Reverse rotationof the pulley 46 will, of course, cause the spring 5| to screw into thescrew 50 and result in a lifting of the valve 51 from its engagementwith the grinding wheel 56 whenever this is desired. When the valve hasbeen thus re-faced it is desirable to grind its seat complementary tothe seating surface of the valve head. To this end the valve 51 isinserted in its valve guide on the engine, as shown in Fig. 7, and thearm 43 may be bolted on top of the cylinder block. A stem 6!! having ascrew driver end Si or equivalent means for engaging the valve head ofvalve 51 is inserted through the valve guide 42 and secured in positionby tightening the set screws 48. On driving the pulley 46 in onedirection the stem 60 is forced downwardly into engagement with thevalve 51 and causes it to press firmly against its seat while beingrotated.

produce the desired operation of pressing the head of the valve againstits seat while it is being rotated relatively thereto and which upon 'afew reverse revolutions of the pulley 2| will enable the valve to belifted from its seat to inspect the seating surfaces or apply additionalabrasive.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A valve grinder comprising means providing a spring housing adaptedto be applied to a valve stem adjacent an engine manifold, means forholding the spring housing against rotation on a supporting structure, apulley rotatable on the spring housing, clamping means applicable to avalve stem having an axially movable but non-rotatable connection withthe pulley, a pair of aligned helical compression springs in the springhousing having open convolutions and capable of screwing into or out ofeach other, one spring having its remote end anchored in the springhousing and the other spring having its remote end anchored on theclamping :means whereby when the pulley is rotated in one direction thesprings will unscrew from each other and be cooperatively effective tourge the valve stem to seat its head and upon rotation of the pulley inthe opposite direction the springs will screw into each other enablingthe valve head to be lifted from its seat and means to rotate the pulleyalternately in opposite directions.

2. A valve grinder comprising a spring housing, a pulley rotatable onthe spring housing, said pulley having a cylindrical extension, a discwithin the extension, said disc having apertures therein and beingapplicable to a valve stem, set screws in the apertures and extendingthrough slots in the extension to hold the disc against rotationrelatively to the pulley but enabling the disc to slide axially withrelation to the pulley, and opposed helical compression springs havingopen convolutions disposed in the spring housing, one spring having oneend thereof anchored to the disc and the other spring having one endthereof anchored to the spring housing whereby when the pulley isrotated in one direction the springs will mutually unscrew from eachother to urge the disc into a position wherein the head of the valvewill be urged against its seat and when the pulley is rotated in theopposite direction the springs may screw into each other to enable thehead of the valve to be lifted from its seat, and means for stationarilymounting the spring housing on a supporting structure and means torotate the pulley alternately in opposite directions.

3. A valve grinder comprising clamping means adapted to be clampinglyapplied to a valve stem,

a spring housing also applicable to the valve stem, means for holdingthe spring housing stationary, a pulley rotatable on the spring housinghaving a slidable but non-rotatable connection with the clamping meanswhereby the clamping means and valve stem may be rotated by the pulleyand the clamping means and valve stem may move axially relatively to thepulley, and two helical compression springs within the housing havingopen convolutions and capable of screwing one into the other, one springhaving one end secured to the spring housing and the other spring havingone end secured to the clamping means whereby when the pulley is rotatedin one direction the springs will screw one into the other causing theclamping means to shift the valve axially in one direction, and when thepulley is rotated in the opposite direction the springs will unscrewfrom each other causing the clamping means and valve to shift axially inthe opposite direction and to be resiliently urged in that directionwhile the valve stem is being rotated by the pulley and means to rotatethe pulley alternately in opposite directions.

FRANK LESTER EARLL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,388,884 Peck Aug. 30, 19211,467,674 Kidd Sept. 11, 1923 2,086,321 Kudo July 16, 1937

